In this interview, Professor Maiko Ichihara of Hitotsubashi University offers a rare outside-in perspective on European values: what they mean to a Japanese scholar of international relations, which of them carry the most weight in today's geopolitical climate, and where they diverge from the value frameworks shaping policy across Asia. As the global order continues to shift, with growing multipolarity, questions over democratic resilience, and deepening strategic competition, Professor Ichihara also addresses a pressing question for European policymakers: how should the EU position itself, and on what foundations? Listen now to this interview to learn about:

• How European values are perceived from a Japanese academic standpoint

• Which European value matters most right now, and why

• Key differences between European and Asian value frameworks

• Strategic recommendations for EU positioning in the new global order Professor Maiko Ichihara is a leading scholar on democracy promotion and international norms at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo.

If you want to learn more, here are some useful resources:

• Professor Ichihara's writings on democracy and Japanese foreign policy via East Asia Forum: https://eastasiaforum.org/author/maiko-ichihara/

• Her 2024 roundtable discussion on democracy, Japan's diplomatic agenda, and the reaffirmation of liberal values in the face of authoritarian reinterpretation: https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/diplomacy/pt2024060314592414286.html

• ECFR (April 2025): "With an unpredictable US and a defiant China, the EU and Japan must deepen their alignment — fast" — argues that strategic cooperation in defence, economic security and diplomacy is no longer optional: https://ecfr.eu/topic/japan/

• East Asia Forum (July 2025): "Japan as a global bulwark against illiberalism under Trump 2.0" — looks at how Japan is positioning itself as a protector of democratic values and the liberal international order: https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/07/24/japan-as-a-global-bulwark-against-illiberalism-under-trump-2-0/

• ECFR's Re:shape Global Europe programme explored how Europe can reconcile its commitment to multilateralism with the need for a more geopolitical and assertive presence internationally: https://ecfr.eu/europeanpower/reshape/

• Carnegie Endowment (2023): "Reimagining EU-ASEAN Relations" — a useful complement that examines how Southeast Asians perceive the EU as a champion of the rules-based order but not as a strategic actor with real regional influence: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/07/reimagining-eu-asean-relations-challenges-and-opportunities